Reecius here from Frontline Gaming to (finally!) finish up
our review of the Cadian Battle Group formations! This time: the Emperor's
Spear Aerial Company.
Be sure to check the Tactics Corner for more
great reviews!
Here are the previous articles in this series:
- Read Part 1 in this series, here. Cadian Battle Group overview.
- Read Part 2 in this series, here. Emperor’s Shield Infantry Company and Platoon.
- Read Part 3 in this series, here. Emperor’s Talon Recon Company.
- Read Part 4 in this series, here. Emperor’s Blade Assault Company.
- Read Part 5 in this series, here. Emperor’s Wrath Artillery Company.
- Read Part 6 in this series, here. Emperor’s Fist Armoured Company.
- Read Part 7 in this series, here. Ogryn Auxilla.
- Read Part 8 in this series, here. Psykana Division.
Overview:
When I read about this formation, I think of the scene from
Apocalypse Now where the choppers are coming in over the beach. Love me the
smell of some Promethium in the morning! This formation is for rapid insertion
tactics and air support for the boys on the ground and is quite good at both.
Composition:
This formation is comprised of 3 units of any combination of
Valkyries or Vendettas.
Special Rules:
Formation Flight: If one of the birds passes a
reserve roll form this formation, you can choose to pass or fail any remaining
reserve rolls for the rest of them.
Low Altitude Drop: At the beginning of your movement
phase, you can declare that a unit from this formation will enact a low
altitude drop. If it does so, it must take a dangerous terrain check for each
piece of terrain it passes over that is more than 3" tall and it cannot
jink until your next movement phase. Units that disembark using Grav Chute
Insertion do not scatter.
Tactics:
This is a fun formation that serves several purposes. For
one, the Fast Attack slot actually gets pretty crowded in Astra Militarum
armies as they have so many good options. Also, if you want to go full Airborne
(as I like to do at times!) this formation lets you without having to go
Elysians. You can take 3 of another flyer in your FA slots (Vultures are my
favorite!) and then snag this formation to carry say, 3 units of Astra
Militarum Veterans or a Company Command Squad or two plus vets. They ride in
the back, come in on a single reserve roll, jump out without scattering and get
some Melta Guns all up in someone's grill! With the Ignores Cover or Split Fire
order, of course. Oh, and for lols, give the Veterans the Demolitions upgrade
and huck a Demo Charge in someone's face! That is always good for a laugh.
Plus, 10 Veterans with Melta Bombs is no joke, either. Imperial Knights get
skittish around them.
You could also start bending the fluff a bit and throw some
units in the birds like Space Marine Command Squads, Sternguard, etc. The
ability to put models precisely where you want them without scattering is very
powerful.
The Birds themselves are quite good, too. I prefer the
Vendetta, myself, but the Valkyrie isn't terrible. It's relatively cheap and
puts out a decent amount of flakk fire. The Vendetta is a bit pricey, but it
can put some twin-linked las cannon love nearly anywhere on the board.
Certainly not bad!
Some type of reserves manipulation is important with a big
ticket formation like this. You really want to ensure that your birds come in
when you want them to. My main man is Lias Issodon, but you can also just use
something more mundane like an Aegis with a Comms Relay.
The formation is fairly straight forward, honestly. It's
mobile, provides some solid firepower, and can put hard hitting troops right
where you want them! Not bad. Be wary of interceptor, obviously, and try to
eliminate skyfire units before your flyers come in if at all possible.
I played against this formation at Adepticon and was quite impressed
with it. Three Vendettas in your face with 3 units of Special Weapon toting
troopers is no joke.